After leaving his five-month-old kid in a hot car under a heat advisory, a Nebraska father has been charged with his death.
The infant, who has not been identified by officials, was discovered unconscious in the heated car in the Pacha Soap Co. parking lot on Monday at approximately 5 p.m. The Hastings Police Department responded to the call.
After attempting to resuscitate the youngster on the spot, officers and Hastings Fire & Rescue hurried him to Mary Lanning Healthcare, which was around five miles away, where he was declared dead.
According to the results of an initial inquiry, the infant’s death was caused by excessive heat exposure.
Jeremy Hansen, the child’s father, was taken into custody by police later that day. Hansen, 36, was accused of causing the death of a child through negligent maltreatment.
Police expressed their condolences to “the family, friends, first responders, and all those affected by this unimaginable loss” and described the child’s death as “heartbreaking.”
In a statement, the department stated, “We extend our deepest condolences and are committed to supporting those impacted during this difficult time.”
According to the US National Weather Service, the toddler was left in the car on Monday when temperatures in Hastings hit the upper 90s and a heat advisory was in effect for the majority of Nebraska.
The Adams County District Attorney officially charged Hansen on Tuesday, and he will appear in court for the first time on Friday.
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According to a Meal Train donation page, a fundraiser has been started to support the Hansen family while the small Nebraska town deals with the loss.
According to the outlet, roughly 400 people had contributed over $37,000 to the family as of Thursday.
In order to provide dinner for the couple’s three surviving children for the next three months, community members have also volunteered to give meals.
Additionally, several community members have reportedly criticized Adams County prosecutors for the father’s charges.
One of Hansen’s acquaintances allegedly said on the internet, “I’m so deeply saddened and disappointed to see the judgment that has been cast so easily.”
Imagine being a parent and having your biggest human moment and greatest fear displayed for everyone to see, all the while attempting to understand the circumstances that led to your greatest loss.
“This is not fair to him. This is not fair to his family. Nobody is worthy of this. As previously stated, rather than tearing them down, how about we pray for them? A greater awakening ought to be prompted by such a significant loss.
According to data from the Kids and Car Safety group, five children in Nebraska lost their lives in overheated cars between 1990 and 2024.
Since 1990, over 1,100 children have perished in overheated cars in the US, with children ages 3 and under accounting for 88% of all fatalities.
In the country, heatstroke in cars claims the lives of 40 children annually on average.
